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Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. . USDA United States The U.S. Department of Agriculture Department of Farm Service Agency Agriculture's Natural Resources CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn SSeerrvviiccee Resoun Natural Forest Service ^ May 1998 Programs Financial, Technical, flg84Pro and Educational Assi no 1627 for Landowners 2 TheU.S. DepartmentofAgriculture's Natural Resources Programs 2 The U.S. DepartmentofAgriculture's Natural Resources Programs Introduction The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers landowners financial, technical, and educational assistance to implement conservation practices on privately owned land. Using this help, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners apply practices that reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance crop land, forest land, wetlands, grazing lands, and wildlife habitat. Incentives offered by USDA promote sustain- able agricultural and forestry practices, which protect and conserve valuable farm and forest land for future generations. USDA assistance also helps individuals and communities restore natural resources after floods, fires, or other natural disasters. The following are brief overviews of natural resource programs managed by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Forest Service (FS). For more details, contact your local USDA Service Center. Conservation Reserve Program The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environ- mentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or riparian buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment forthe term of the multi-year contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices. 3 The U.S. DepartmentofAgriculture's Natural Resources Programs Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) provides a flexible and cost- effective means to address agricultural resource problems bytargeting Federal and State resources to specific geographic regions of particular environmental sensitivity over a 10- to 15-year period forthe Conservation Reserve Program. The primary CREP objectives are: (1) to create an opportunity where the resources of a State government and the CRP can be targeted in a coordinated mannerto address specific conservation and environmental objectives of that State and the Nation; and (2) to improve water quality, erosion control, and wildlife habitat in specific geographic areas which have been adversely impacted by agricultural activities, with emphasis on addressing non-point source water pollution and habitat restoration in a cost-effective manner. Emergency Conservation Program The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers forthe restoration of farmlands on which normal farming operations have been impeded by natural disasters. ECP also helps with funds for carrying out emergency watercon- servation measures during periods of severe drought. Emergency conservation assistance is available for removing debris and restoring per- manent fences, terraces, diversions, irrigation systems, and other conservation installations. Conservation problems that existed before a disaster are not eligible. 4 The U.S. Department ofAgriculture's Natural Resources Programs Emergency Watershed Protection Program The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program is designed to reduce threats to life and property in the wake of natural disasters. It provides technical and cost-sharing assistance. Assistance includes establishing vegetative cover; gully control; installing streambank protection devices; removing debris and sediment; and stabilizing levees, channels, and gullies. In sub- sequent storms, EWP projects protect homes, businesses, highways, and public facilities from further damage. Floodplain easements under EWP may be purchased to help prevent future losses due to natural disasters. 5 Environmental Quality incentives Program The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) works primarily in locally identified priority areas where there are significant natural resource concerns, such as soil erosion, water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat, wetlands, and forest and grazing lands. Priority is given to areas where State or local governments offer financial, technical, or educational assistance, and to areas where agricultural improvements will help meetwaterquality objectives. Activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan. Priority area proposals are submitted to the NRCS State Conservationist, who selects those areas within the State based on recommenda- tions from the State Technical Committee. — The U.S. DepartmentofAgriculture's Natural Resources Programs EQIP is one of several Federal, State, and local conservation programs that farmers and ranchers can use to solve their natural resource concerns. EQIP offers financial, educational, and technical help to install or implement structural, vegetative, and management practices called for in 5- to 10-year contracts. These practices which include manure management systems, — pest management, and erosion control help improve and maintain the health of natural resources. Cost sharing may pay up to 75 percent ofthe costs of certain conservation practices. Nationally, half ofthe funding for EQIP is targeted to livestock-related natural resource concerns and the remainderto other significant conservation priorities. Farmland Protection Program The Farmland Protection Program provides funds to State, tribal, or local government entities to help purchase development hghts to keep pro ductive farmland in agricultural use. Working through their existing programs, USDAjoins with State, tribal, or local governments to acquire conservation easements or other interests from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the costs of purchasing the easements. To qual- ify, farmland must: be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or local farmland protection program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be accessible to markets forwhat the land produces; have adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services; and have surround- ing parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production. 7 TheU.S. DepartmentofAgriculture's Natural ResourcesPrograms Forest Legacy Program The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) conserves the resource values offorest land, emphasizing lands of regional and national significance that are threatened with conversion to nonforest uses. Conservation easements or purchases are the methods used to accomplish program objectives. FLP directly supports acquisition of partial interests in privately owned forest lands, helps States implementtheirconservation plans, and supports State efforts to acquire donated conservation easements. FLP-funded acquisi- tions are perpetual and may offer public access. Forest Stewardship Program The Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) takes a multiple-resource approach to managing nonindustrial private forest lands by bringing the expertise of State-employed foresters, biologists and private consultants to private landowners to help them prepare natural resource management plans. These plans encourage landowners to become active in planning and managing their forests, greatly increasing the likelihood thatthe forests will remain productive and healthy, and that social, economic and environmental benefits ofthese lands will be better realized. Forestry Incentives Program The Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) supports good forest management practices on privately owned, nonindustrial forest lands nationwide. FIP is designed to benefitthe environmentwhile meeting future demands forwood products. Eligible practices are tree planting, timber stand improvement, site preparation for natural regen- eration, and related activities. FIP is available in counties designated by a Forest Service survey of eligible private timberacreage. 8